Pet Auto Safety

Animal Haven is the largest no-kill animal shelter in the greater Kansas City area. Their euthenasia rate was only 8% in 2008 because this shelter does everything they can to reunite lost pets with their owners and to find a happy home for homeless pets - even for homeless pets with health or temperament issues.

I recently made my first visit to the shelter and really liked what I saw. The entire facility was clean. There are volunteers everywhere taking shelter dogs for a walk or socializing with the cats. Animal Haven has large outdoor pens for the dogs to get more play room during the day. (The outdoor pens are only used during the day and during fair weather conditions. The dogs are housed in comfortable indoor pens at all other times.) The area for the cats was also clean and comfortable. During the day, some were let out to wander and play in the cat play area.

Animal Haven has a wonderful veterinary team. They will treat most sick and injured animals rather than euthenize them. Animal Haven has professional dog trainers train the dogs in order to help curb some bad habits or to do basic training. The dog training really makes the dogs more adoptable.

Animal Haven has many volunteer opportunities and has lots of other pet-related services to offer. Check out their website at http://www.animalhavenkc.org.

We love the new Cruising Companion™ Houndstooth Dog Car Seat Covers. Not only are they durable, but they are also fashionable. The Cruising Companion™ Houndstooth Dog Car Seat Covers come in houndstooth patterns of black & white, brown & white, or pink & white. It has two seat belt slots for use with the matching Cruising Companion™ Houndstooth Dog Car Harnesses or any of our other dog car harnesses. The Cruising Companion™ Houndstooth Dog Car Seat Covers are also machine washable should you take you dog to the dog park where the ground happened to be muddy. My dogs go to the dog park all the time and it is often wet and muddy. But the upholstery of my car stays nice and clean.

Poor Maya burned her paw the other day. When we went to the dog park, Maya was so excited that she burst out of the car as soon as I took off her dog car seat belt, but before I was able to put on her leash. I have learned to put on the leash before taking off her seat belt, but only after Maya burned her paw while running around on the hot asphalt pavement of the parking lot. One of her feet blistered and some padding came off. I took her to the vet, but the only recommendation they had was to give her some pain medicine and not let her walk around too much. She limped for three days.

Before you take your dog out this season, be aware that the black asphalt pavement is very hot and can burn your dog’s feet. Try to avoid the black asphalt pavements or try to park in a shaded area. Maya’s injuries were very minor and limted to only one of her paws, but could have been much worse.

Whose Maya?  Check out her profile on the Pet Pals page of Pet Auto Safety.com.

You would be surprised at home many things around your home can be harmful to your pet. If you have a puppy or a curious adult dog, please read this following article on the common houshold dangers to your dog:

Protect Your Pet - Common Household Dangers to Your Dogs
By: Guy Berg

The most obvious reason you should care for your pet is so that your pet lives a long and happy life and gives you happiness in return. But now there is another reason. Cities all over the US are cracking down on people who abuse or neglect their pets. Neglect includes leaving a dog chained in the yard day-in and day-out or letting a dog roam the neighborhood. Just because someone regularly feeds a dog, a dog constantly chained up or allowed to roam can eventually lead to a dangerous dog which is more inclined to attack or bite people than a dog who is properly cared for. Check out this fantastic article written by someone in a city who is issuing citations for dog owners who do not properly are for or restrain their dogs:

Citations Issued to Dog Owners Who Do Not Properly Care For or Restrain Their Dogs

The shelters are full all over the United States due to people giving up their pets.  This economy is making it more difficult for people to pay their bills. But before you give up your pets, consider all the quality benefits you will be losing. Studies have shown that pets help us with our health and stress. The comfort of a pet can help with various health issues including high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression. See our blog post on health provided by animals. If you are stuggling in this economy, don’t you think it would be easier to deal with stress by keeping your best friend around?

Besides, caring for your pets are not really all that expensive. You can get inexpensive dog food which may not have all the specialties of the name brand dog foods but it is still adequately nutritious. You can also purchase pet medications and their shots online from sites which provide vast discounts as compared to the costs of veterinarians. Be sure to research any such sites to make sure they are a legitimate company selling legitimate products. You can get recommendations from humane societies and check to see if the site is owned by a company who is a member of the Better Business Bureau. Other than food and shots, there is really no other expense associated with keeping your pet. Check out this heart-warming article on a woman who lived in her car with her dogs. She may have lost her home, but she has not lost her beloved pets. There’s no doubt that they will help her get through these hard times.

Do you like to be environmentally conscious? I do! I used to use plastic grocery bags to pick up after my dog. But then I bought those inexpensive canvas bags for my groceries. So after running out of plastic bags, I started buying inexpensive diaper bags from the dollar store as my dog poopie waste bags. They worked great but it was a lot of plastic to put into the trash and it kept the doggie doo from naturally disintegrating. Then I found these great biodegradable dog poopie waste bags. These biodegradable dog poopie waste bagsare a bit more expensive but definitely worth it. They are scented so they smell good and best of all, they will dissolve naturally into the environment!

Hip dysplasia is all too common with large breed dogs now days. It is especially prevalent because of those unscrupulous dog breeders who breed dogs just to make money. Generally, they have not done any research or testing on the dogs they are breeding in order to make sure they won’t pass on any defects. Well, if you want to buy a quality dog, here is what you do to make sure your new dog will be unlikely to have hip dysplasia problems in the future - Check out the OFA.

Who is OFA and what do they do? The OFA, which stands for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is a non-profit organization dedicated “to the advancement of canine health”. One of the primary directives of the OFA is “To collate and disseminate information concerning orthopedic and genetic diseases of animals.” Basically, for a small fee, they test dogs for various genetic problems, including hip dysplasia. A good breeder will have both parents tested for hip dysplasia and will be certified by the OFA. And a good breeder will be glad to show you the certification before you buy their puppies. Feel free to check out the OFA website for more information.

http://www.offa.org/

Dogs may be more tolerant to cold weather than people, but dogs can still die in this winter weather. If your dog is an outside dog, make sure they have shelter away from the wind, sleet, and snow. For added warmth, put a blanket or some straw in their shelter. Always bring your dog indoors during severe weather.

The most obvious Indication that your dog is freezing is the shivering. But if the dog is shivering excessively, then your dog may need emergency care. Other symptoms of freezing include weakness and the inability to use their legs. If you notice these severe symptoms, practice emergency care for your dog by immediately bringing them into a warm place. Wrap your dog in warm blankets but do not rub them as this may promote frostbite. You can also wrap warm bottles in towels and put around your dog. You don’t want to put hot bottles in direct contact with your dog and you don’t want to warm your dog up too quickly so do not submerge them in warm water. Also do not use electric heat from an electric heater or an electric blanket.

Check your dog’s feet and toes for signs of frostbite. The skin may be discolored and may not warm up with the rest of the body. If you notice frostbite or your dog does not stop shivering, take them to the vet immediately.

For more emergency pet care information visit http://emergencycarefordogs.info.

Leave Your Pet(s) at a Boarding Kennel

The major benefit of having your pet cared for at a boarding kennel is that they are under almost constant care. However, you may want to research boarding kennels before you elect this option. Some have smaller cages with no outside access while others have both inside and outside access. And some have a large day care area where your pets can play with others during the day.

The drawback of having your pet stay in a boarding kennel is that you have to arrange things in advance just as you would a pet sitter. You will also have to get something from your vet certifying that your pet is up to date on their shots. Bordetella is an additional prevention that may have to be administered prior to boarding. Bordetella is generally not a standard treatment for dogs like rabies and DHLPPC shots. Another drawback is the cost. A simple boarding cost will apply but some boarding kennels charge additional fees for administering medications, day play sessions, and larger boarding cages.

The best way to decide which option to choose is to know your pet. Maya, for example, is very sociable. She would not do well at home by herself for so long. I will either have her go and stay with a friend or most likely, I will take her to Woof’s Play-n-Stay Pet Hotel. They are a boarding kennel with a day play area. The day play is already included in the cost so I don’t have to pay extra for her to socialize with the other dogs and with the dog-loving day care workers. Sephi, on the other hand, prefers her solitude and would much rather be at home. If I can’t get a friend to come by and take care of her, I know she would love for Ron with Grand-Paws Pet Sitting Service to come visit.

So, the most important factor in determining which option to choose it so know your pet.  Other factors, of course, come into play, such as cost and convenience, but your pet’s happiness and well-being comes first.